A political report by the Pioneer Press' Bill Salisbury this week made an interesting point about the long career of Gov. Mark Dayton: He's never won -- or even tried for -- a second term.

Dayton, who also has served as state auditor and U.S. senator, stepped down from both previous offices after just one term.

The report notes that this year the governor faces a crowded field of Republican challengers: special-education teacher Rob Farnsworth, businessman Scott Honour, Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson, former House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, state Sen. Dave Thompson and state Rep. Kurt Zellers.

We welcome them to the race, one we hope will be a lively and thorough discussion of the issues most important to Minnesota, and we note that the mix of candidates could yet diversify: Sen. Karin Housley of St. Mary's Point confirmed Wednesday that she is still considering a run for governor.

Salisbury listed some key dates to watch this year, beginning with Jan. 31, the day campaign finance reports, an early indicator of candidates' support, are due. The fight for attention will be intense, and positioning is under way.

"I have exciting news for you," Thompson, an attorney from Lakeville and former talk radio host, says in a notice posted this week on his website: "I can honestly say that we've shut down the nay-sayers and put our campaign on solid financial footing as we enter 2014."

His campaign will report raising more than $120,000 in 2013, which it says is more than the last Republican nominee (Tom Emmer) raised in the year before the 2010 election.

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Salisbury observed that Dayton faces many of the usual challenges for an incumbent, including the anticipated drop in turnout that's typical in mid-term elections. But, unlike his opponents, Dayton has both significant statewide name recognition and campaign cash on hand, having raised nearly $1 million in 2013.

And there will be plenty more to watch, including whether Republicans could regain control of the Minnesota House, which they lost in 2012. To do so, they need to pick up just seven seats.

Also on the statewide ballot will be the U.S. Senate seat held by Al Franken and all of Minnesota's members of the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as state constitutional officers (attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, lieutenant governor). The 2014 election also will include many county commissioners and all county sheriffs, county attorneys, auditors, treasurers and recorders.

Key dates on the way to General Election Day, Nov. 4, include the Feb. 4 precinct caucuses, neighborhood party meetings at which the delegates who ultimately endorse candidates are elected, and Primary Election Day, which is Aug. 12.

Voters' participation will be key. But the state that prides itself as a national leader had voter turnout of just 55 percent in 2010, compared with 76 percent in the 2012 presidential election.

Helping to support voter participation, according to the Secretary of State's Office, is the No Excuse Absentee Balloting law, which takes effect in time for the primary. Minnesota will join 28 other states that allow voters to cast absentee ballots without having to provide an excuse.

It's noteworthy that both of those at the top of the Democratic ticket won in recounts: Dayton in 2010 by 8,770 votes, and Franken by only 312 -- of 2.9 million cast -- in a contest that extended to mid-2009.

Democrats also will be defending their hold on the state's constitutional offices. In addition to Gov. Dayton and Lt. Gov. Yvonne Prettner Solon, those in office are Attorney General Lori Swanson and State Auditor Rebecca Otto. Secretary of State Mark Ritchie announced in June that he will not seek re-election.